Kentucky fans just can’t wait for the start of basketball season. Hundreds and hundreds camped out for days to be among the first in line for tickets to the University of Kentucky's Midnight Madness on Oct. 12. Thousands more arrived before dawn to join the line Saturday.

Distribution of the free tickets (max four per person) began at 7 a.m. ET Saturday at Memorial Coliseum and online. All 24,000 tickets were gone within 35 minutes, school officials say.

Kentucky fans are wild about their Wildcats. (AP Photo)

Big Blue Madness, featuring scrimmages by the UK women’s and men’s teams, will be held at Rupp Arena for the eighth consecutive year. School officials say the start time and broadcast information will be announced later.

Coming off the school’s eighth NCAA title, excitement and expectations are at a fevered pitch even though the team lost six of its top seven players to the NBA. Kentucky is ranked No. 4 in Sporting News’ preseason top 25.

Only reserve forward Kyle Wiltjer returns this season. He’ll be joined on the court by N.C. State transfer point guard Ryan Harrow plus the No. 1-ranked recruiting class of centers Nerlens Noel and Willie Cauley-Stein and small forward Alex Poythress and shooting guard Archie Goodwin.